Transfer of Sulfamethazine from Contaminated Beeswax to Honey

A liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of sulfa drugs in beeswax was developed. When performing residue control on beeswax intended for the fabrication of wax foundations, residues of sulfonamides were found. A migration test was set up to study whether sulfonamide-containing beeswax could lead to the contamination of honey. The higher the concentration of sulfamethazine doped in the wax, the higher was the concentration of sulfamethazine found in the honey. The maximum transfer was 15.6, 56.9, and 29.5% of the initial amount spiked in the wax foundation. In a second experiment, the percentage of sulfamethazine migrating from medicated winter feed to beeswax in relation to the concentration in the syrup and the contact time was studied. The maximum transfer of sulfamethazine from medicated sucrose syrup to beeswax was 3.1%

Interferences on microbial inhibitor tests related to ivermectin treatment in lactating dairy goats

[EN] This Research Communication reports interferences related to the administration of ivermectin in lactating dairy goats on the response of microbial tests for screening antibiotics in milk. Twenty-eight Murciano-Granadina goats, naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var. caprae, were treated with a subcutaneous injection of ivermectin (200 mu g/kg b.w.). To prevent re-infestation, a second dose was applied 7 d later. Individual milk samples were collected, daily, up to 15 d post-treatment. Milk samples were analysed by microbial inhibitor tests (BRT MRL, Delvotest SP-NT MCS and Eclipse 100) and ivermectin residues were quantified by HPLC. A large number of positive results were obtained for all microbial tests, especially on the first day after treatment (BRT MRL = 464%; Delvotest SP-NT MCS = 143%; and Eclipse 100 = 178%). However, the highest concentration of drug residues in milk (243 ng/ml) was detected on the tenth day after treatment, when positive outcomes were relatively lower (BRT MRL = 178%; Delvotest SP-NT MCS = 107%; and Eclipse 100 = 74%). Results herein suggest that factors related to the ivermectin treatment other than drug residues in milk, or alterations produced by the parasitic disease itself affecting the immune response of animals, could be the cause of false-positive results in microbial tests. It can be concluded that the application of ivermectin in dairy goats infested with sarcoptes mange during lactation produces persistent drug residues in milk, and could also cause false-positive results in microbial inhibitor tests for screening antibiotics.This work is part of the AGL-2009-11524 funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Madrid, Spain) and the Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMOP/2012/164, Valencia, Spain).Romero Rueda, T.; Moya, V.; Fernández Martínez, N.; Althaus, RL.; Reybroeck, W.; Molina Pons, MP. (2016). Interferences on microbial inhibitor tests related to ivermectin treatment in lactating dairy goats. Journal of Dairy Research. 83(3):341-344. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029916000443S341344833ROMERO, T., BELTRÁN, M. C., REYBROECK, W., & MOLINA, M. P. (2015). Effect In Vitro of Antiparasitic Drugs on Microbial Inhibitor Test Responses for Screening Antibiotic Residues in Goat’s Milk. Journal of Food Protection, 78(9), 1756-1759. doi:10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-020Mullins, J. S., Arlian, L. G., & Morgan, M. S. (2009). Extracts of Sarcoptes scabiei De Geer Downmodulate Secretion of IL-8 by Skin Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts and of GM-CSF by Fibroblasts in the Presence of Proinflammatory Cytokines. Journal of Medical Entomology, 46(4), 845-851. doi:10.1603/033.046.0415De, U. K., & Dey, S. (2010). Evaluation of organ function and oxidant/antioxidant status in goats with sarcoptic mange. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42(8), 1663-1668. doi:10.1007/s11250-010-9618-yImperiale, F., Lifschitz, A., Sallovitz, J., Virkel, G., & Lanusse, C. (2004). Comparative depletion of ivermectin and moxidectin milk residues in dairy sheep after oral and subcutaneous administration. Journal of Dairy Research, 71(4), 427-433. doi:10.1017/s002202990400038xLastras, M. ., Pastor, J., Marco, I., Ruiz, M., Viñas, L., & Lavin, S. (2000). Effects of sarcoptic mange on serum proteins and immunoglobulin G levels in chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Veterinary Parasitology, 88(3-4), 313-319. doi:10.1016/s0304-4017(99)00221-6Sajid, M. S., Iqbal, Z., Muhammad, G., Sandhu, M. A., Khan, M. N., Saqib, M., & Iqbal, M. U. (2007). Effect of ivermectin on the cellular and humoral immune responses of rabbits. Life Sciences, 80(21), 1966-1970. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2007.02.025Romero, T., Beltrán, M. C., Althaus, R. L., & Molina, M. P. (2014). Detection of antibiotics in goat’s milk: effect of detergents on the response of microbial inhibitor tests. Journal of Dairy Research, 81(3), 372-377. doi:10.1017/s0022029914000259Rahman, M. M., Lecchi, C., Fraquelli, C., Sartorelli, P., & Ceciliani, F. (2010). Acute phase protein response in Alpine ibex with sarcoptic mange. Veterinary Parasitology, 168(3-4), 293-298. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.12.001Imperiale, F. A., Busetti, M. R., Suárez, V. H., & Lanusse, C. E. (2004). Milk Excretion of Ivermectin and Moxidectin in Dairy Sheep:  Assessment of Drug Residues during Cheese Elaboration and Ripening Period. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(20), 6205-6211. doi:10.1021/jf049117nWalton, S. F., & Currie, B. J. (2007). Problems in Diagnosing Scabies, a Global Disease in Human and Animal Populations. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 20(2), 268-279. doi:10.1128/cmr.00042-06ALTHAUS, R., TORRES, A., PERIS, C., BELTRAN, M. C., FERNANDEZ, N., & MOLINA, M. P. (2003). Accuracy of BRT and Delvotest Microbial Inhibition Tests as Affected by Composition of Ewe’s Milk. Journal of Food Protection, 66(3), 473-478. doi:10.4315/0362-028x-66.3.473McKELLAR, Q. A., & BENCHAOUI, H. A. (1996). Avermectins and milbemycins. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 19(5), 331-351. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1996.tb00062.xAndrew, S. M. (2001). Effect of Composition of Colostrum and Transition Milk from Holstein Heifers on Specificity Rates of Antibiotic Residue Tests. Journal of Dairy Science, 84(1), 100-106. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)74457-8EMA, European Medicine Agency 2014 European Public MRL Assessment Report. Ivermectin (all mammalian food producing species). EMA/CVMP/294840/2014. http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Maximum_Residue_Limits_-_Report/2014/05/WC500167329.pdfStankiewicz, M., Cabaj, W., Jonas, W. E., Moore, L. G., Millar, K., & Ng Chie, W. (1995). Influence of ivermectin on cellular and humoral immune responses of lambs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 44(3-4), 347-358. doi:10.1016/0165-2427(94)05308-fBeltrán, M. C., Berruga, M. I., Molina, A., Althaus, R. L., & Molina, M. P. (2015). Performance of current microbial tests for screening antibiotics in sheep and goat milk. International Dairy Journal, 41, 13-15. doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2014.09.00

Pesticides for apicultural and/or agricultural application found in Belgian honey bee wax combs

In a Belgian pilot study honey bee wax combs from ten hives were analyzed on the presence of almost 300 organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Traces of 18 pesticides were found and not a single sample was free of residues. The number of residues found per sample ranged from 3 to 13, and the pesticides found could be categorized as (1) pesticides for solely apicultural (veterinary) application, (2) pesticides for solely agricultural (crop protection) application, (3) pesticides for mixed agricultural and apicultural (veterinary) application. The frequencies and quantities of some environmental pollutants bear us high concerns. Most alarming was the detection of lindane (gamma-HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (including its breakdown product dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene), two insecticides that are banned in Europe. The present comprehensive residue analysis, however, also reveals residues of pesticides never found in beeswax before, i.e. DEET, propargite and bromophos

Pesticides for Apicultural and/or Agricultural Application Found in Belgian Honey Bee Wax Combs

Abstract In a Belgian pilot study honey bee wax combs from ten hives were analyzed on the presence of almost 300 organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Traces of 18 pesticides were found and not a single sample was free of residues. The number of residues found per sample ranged from 3 to 13, and the pesticides found could be categorized as (1) pesticides for solely apicultural (veterinary) application, (2) pesticides for solely agricultural (crop protection) application, (3) pesticides for mixed agricultural and apicultural (veterinary) application. The frequencies and quantities of some environmental pollutants bear us high concerns. Most alarming was the detection of lindane (gamma-HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (including its breakdown product dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene), two insecticides that are banned in Europe. The present comprehensive residue analysis, however, also reveals residues of pesticides never found in beeswax before, i.e. DEET, propargite and bromophos

Validation of the charm MRL-3 for fast screening of beta-lactam antibiotics in raw milk

The biochemicals utilized in the Charm MRL beta-Lactam test (8 min test) were applied to faster flowing lateral components to create a new 3 min, one-step beta-lactam test called Charm MRL-3 (Charm Sciences Inc., Lawrence, MA). This new test was validated at T&V-ILVO according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The following analytical parameters were checked: test specificity, detection capability, and test robustness (impact of deviation of the test protocol, and impact of the milk composition, batch differences of reagents). Further, the suitability of the Charm MRL-3 to screen heat-treated milk or milk from animal species other than the cow was also tested. Finally, the test was integrated in the monitoring of dairy samples to check the occurrence of false-negative or false-positive results, and the test was also included in a national ring trial and an international proficiency study. The results proved that the Charm MRL-3 is a fast, simple, and reliable cows' milk test that can be used at the farm level in order to prevent tanker milk contamination, or at the entrance of the dairy plant to screen tanker milk for the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics

Validation of the tetrasensor honey test kit for the screening of tetracyclines in honey

Regarding anti-infectious agents, no maximum residue limits are fixed for honey in the European legislation. Discussions are being conducted in order to set working limits at the European level; for example, for tetracyclines, 20 mu g/kg was proposed. The Tetrasensor Honey test kit is a receptor-based assay using dipsticks for a rapid screening (30 min) of honey on the presence of tetracyclines. The test was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The test detects tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline in honey in a specific and sensitive way. Depending on the type of tetracycline, detection capabilities (CC ss) between 6 and 12 mu g/kg were obtained (4-7 mu g/kg for dried dipsticks). The test is rugged and participation with the test in an international ring trial gave compliant results. It can be concluded that the Tetrasensor Honey test kit is a simple and reliable test that can even be used at the production site